66 THE SOCIETY FOE THE PRESERVATION OE 



shows that in most oases the numerical strength of the various 

 herds has been fairly well maintained, while a few have diminished 

 and others have increased. The blesbok in the Steynsburg 

 district now number 650, or 200 more than in the previous year. 

 Bontebok show a slight increase, but the buffaloes have been 

 reduced by some 200, in spite of special protection, and it is 

 estimated that 500 only remain, while the elephants have just held 

 their own, their number being about 390. Gemsbok have been 

 reduced to 2,000, or 500 less than last year. Koodoo are holding 

 their own, about 5,500 being reported in the various districts. 

 Oribe are not numerous, a few only existing in two of the 

 divisions. The numbers of rietbok are stationary, about 240 

 being accounted for. Zebras are slightly more numerous, the total 

 reaching about 400. Springbok are migratory, and it is therefore 

 difficult to estimate their numbers, but various small herds exist- 

 The number of harteheest is given as 7,000, an increase of 1,000 

 during the year ; and wild ostriches are returned as 6,000, against 

 4,000 in 1903. Eland are represented by a herd of ten, preserved 

 in private hands in the Graaff-Reinet division. Wildebeest are 

 faiily numerous in Bechuanaland and Griqualand West, but as 

 they frequently shift their quarters in search of food their numbers 

 cannot be estimated with any accuracy. 



' Various rewards are still offered for the destruction of oertaiE 

 wild carnivora and other injurious animals. During the year 

 ended June 30, 1904, over £18,000 was disbursed on this account 

 for lynxes, jackals of different kinds, and baboons, the scale being 

 3.s. 6d. for a lynx, 10s. for a jackal, and Is. 3d. for a baboon. Efforts 

 have been made by the association to introduce and acclimatise 

 the, wild jungle-fowl of Northern India, but, so far, the attempts 

 made to get some of the birds imported through an of'licial in the 

 Eorest Department of the Indian Government have not been 

 successful, although it is expected that a consignment will be 

 received in course of time.' 



We publish an extract from a letter written by a member of the 

 Society who has recently returned from the districts north ol 

 Victoria Falls : 



' The recent arrival of the railway at the Victoria Falls of the 

 Zambesi, and more especially its immediate advance to the North, 

 probably to the Kaful River, has thrown open a fine game 

 country, hitherto most difficult of access, which many sportsmen 

 have already taken full advantage of, and without doubt very 

 many more will immediately follow in annually increasing 

 numbers. As a natural consequence game must gist rapidly 

 scarcer, in spite of all game regulations, which, by the way, are Ear 

 easier to formulate than to enforce. The only really efficient 

 plan is the establishment of absolute game sanctuaries within 

 which no game of any kind may be shot. The Chartered Com- 

 pany have, I believe, two Game Reserves north of Matabeleland — 

 namely, one between the Chobe and Zambesi Rivers, and another 



